Whilst the EU, ASEAN and the USA will remain China's top export and import markets, China-Africa trade has been increasing rapidly since its $1bn level at the start of China's 'opening up' policy in 1980.

Today China-Africa trade exceeds $170bn (2017), and China has been Africa's largest trading partner for nearly a decade.

Since the beginning of the Xi Jinping era, trade relations and political-military relations have become more integrated, sophisticated and targeted - and more closely overseen by Chinese state institutions, with startling effect.

Africa is where Chinese global strategy, for example the 'Belt and Road Initiative' and the 'Maritime Silk Road', interacts with real-world complexities and rivalries.

Much can be deduced about the evolving Xi Jingping era from the actuality of China's changing modus operandi in Africa and how China deals with these regional and global rivalries 'on the ground'.

This LIBG Forum considers different aspects of the changing China-Africa relationship; military, economic and political. The subjects discussed will include the longer-term economic development implications of deeper Chinese engagement in Africa, the impact on the conflict areas of Africa such as NE Nigeria and South Sudan, and changes in Western military-security policy and aid strategy in response.

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